Across the Atlantic, Mayo fans dare to dream of All-Ireland glory

There’s a line in Jim Telfer’s famous British and Irish Lions ‘Everest’ speech which resonates more than any other for us Mayo fans.

“Defeat doesn’t worry me, I’ve had it often - and so have you,” Telfer told his pack prior to their famous series win over the then World Cup champions South Africa.

For us who journeyed with the last generation of Mayo players, there is a sense of ease going into this final more than ever - defeat doesn’t worry us.

Each year of the 2010’s we travelled together, lost together, bounced back together, celebrated the wins together, had milestones in our lives dated on the basis of which team Mayo faced and where - it felt like that time had come to a crashing and shuddering halt after the Tyrone defeat in 2021.

Now, new life both on the field and in the stands has reinvigorated the county. This is their time now to feel that nervous expectation that we felt walking up Jones Road in ‘12, ‘13, ‘16 et al.

Our fears were always that they may not ever feel the same emotions or elation as we felt in abundance during those days, and Mayo would drift into a darker era. One semi final win and a terrible beauty is born again.

FEAR OF MISSING OUT

For those of us who can’t make it to Dublin, based on the other side of the Atlantic and further afield, there is a fear that we’ll miss the biggest party.

That’s part of what you give up when you depart home, and our decision to leave came as that fantastic era was coming to an end.

Watching the 21’ final alongside my partner Charlotte (Moore) was torturous for a host of reasons, but Covid at least gave the excuse that we couldn’t make it home even if we wanted.

We mourned in silence until late in the night with very little communication from back home like lost ships at sea.

A few weeks previous, following our defeat of Dublin, you could have heard us without requiring any means of communication - as we roared down the line “We did it, we finally did it,” elatedly sobbing to family members beeping their way through the M50 toll booth. Ghosts briefly banished and connection restored.

GIVE IT HELL

Regardless of where we’re scattered throughout the globe, we’ll always crave that connection. The sight of another Mayo jersey offers a chance to briefly transport the mind home.

This weekend we’ll band together like troops marooned on an island awaiting confirmation of victory on the mainland. If you happen to be at the battle - take our voices, and give it hell.

We’d give anything to be stood alongside ye.

Expectations are dampened this time around, Kerry are, after all, the current holders and have the greatest player to play the game in their ranks. It is Everest. For Mayo it’s a free hit - they’ll not view it that way though.

You hope the youthful exuberance this team has shown is able to shine through one last time. Once they empty the tank, that’s all we can ask for. As Telfer would say, performance is all that matters.